Oak tree named ‘Dahlonega’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Oak tree named ‘Dahlonega’, characterized by its upright branching habit and pyramidal tree form; freely branching habit with numerous secondary branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance; early leaf-out in the spring, typically about two to three weeks earlier than other selections of  Quercus lyrata ; and numerous glossy dark green-colored leaves that become dark orange and red in color during the autumn.

Botanical designation: Quercus lyrata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DAHLONEGA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to anew and distinct cultivar of Oak tree,botanically known as Quercus lyrata, commercially referred to as SwampPost Oak or Overcup Oak and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Dahlonega’.

The new Oak tree is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Pulaski and Oconee Counties, Ga. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Oak trees appropriate for urbanlandscapes that leaf-out early in the spring and have attractive autumnleaf color.

The new Oak tree originated from an open-pollination of an unnamedselection of Quercus lyrata, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with an unknown selection of Quercus lyrata as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Oak tree was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Pulaski County, Ga. inNovember, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Oak tree by grafting in a controlledenvironment in Oconee County, Ga. since has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Oak tree are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Oak have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environmental conditions such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dahlonega’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dahlonega’ as a new and distinct Oak tree:

-   -   1. Upright branching habit and pyramidal tree form.    -   2. Freely branching habit with numerous secondary branches        providing a full and densely foliated appearance.    -   3. Early leaf-out in the spring, typically about two to three        weeks earlier than other selections of Quercus lyrata.    -   4. Numerous glossy dark green-colored leaves that become dark        orange and red in color during the autumn.

Trees of the new Oak can be compared to trees of the female parentselection. Trees of the new Oak differ primarily from trees of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Oak are upright pyramidal in shape with        narrow branch angles whereas trees of the female parent        selection are broadly rounded in shape with much wider branch        angles.    -   2. Trees of the new Oak leaf-out in the spring two to three        weeks earlier than trees of the female parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of trees of the new Oak become dark orange and red in        color during the autumn whereas leaves of trees of the female        parent selection do not change color in the autumn.

Trees of the new Oak can also be compared to trees of Quercus lyrata‘Red Baron’, not patented. Trees of the new Oak and ‘Red Baron’ differprimarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Oak are upright pyramidal in shape with        narrow branch angles whereas trees of ‘Red Baron’ are oval in        shape with much wider branch angles.    -   2. Trees of the new Oak leaf-out in the spring one to two weeks        earlier than trees of ‘Red Baron’.    -   3. Leaves of trees of the new Oak are smaller than leaves of        trees of ‘Red Baron’.    -   4. Leaves of trees of the new Oak and ‘Red Baron’ differ in        autumn leaf color as shown in the following photographs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Oak tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Oak tree.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical mature tree of ‘Dahlonega’ grown during the summer in an outdoornursery.

The photographs on the second sheet are side perspective views oftypical mature trees of ‘Dahlonega’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right) grownduring the winter in an outdoor nursery showing the differences inbranch angle orientation and overall tree form.

The photographs on the third sheet are close-up views of the uppersurfaces of typical leaves of ‘Dahlonega’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right)grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery showing the differences inleaf size.

The photographs on the fourth sheet are close-up views of the uppersurfaces of typical leaves of ‘Dahlonega’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right)grown during the autumn in an outdoor nursery showing the differences inautumn leaf color.

The photographs on the fifth sheet are side perspective views of typicalmature trees of ‘Dahlonega’ (top) and ‘Red Baron’ (bottom) on Apr. 14,2015 in an outdoor nursery showing the differences in spring leafdevelopment.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe trees grown in an outdoor nursery in Pulaski County,Ga. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Oak treeproduction. Trees used in the photographs and description were eightyears old. During the production of the trees, average day temperaturewas 24.5° C. and average night temperature was 11.1° C. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Quercus lyrata ‘Dahlonega’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Quercus            lyrata, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Quercus            lyrata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By grafting scions of the new Oak tree onto an unnamed            selection of Quercus lyrata rootstock.-   Tree description:    -   -   Tree form and growth habit.—Deciduous tree with upright            branching habit and pyramidal tree form; freely branching            habit with about 68 lateral branches developing per tree;            full and densely-foliated appearance; vigorous growth habit;            early leaf-out in the spring; to date, flower initiation and            development have not been observed on trees of the new Oak.        -   Tree height.—About 9.75 meters.        -   Tree width (spread).—About 5.97 meters.        -   Trunk caliper.—About 27.9 cm.        -   Growth rate, height.—About 1.22 meters per year.        -   Growth rate, caliper.—About 3.49 cm per year.        -   Branch angle orientation.—Lower canopy branches, about 23°            from vertical; upper canopy branches, about 18° from            vertical.        -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm on one-year old wood.        -   Lateral branch color.—Immature bark: Close to between 172B            and 176 and between 177A and 164A. Mature bark: Close to            198B; underneath, close to between 198A and 195A.        -   Immature bark texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Mature bark texture.—Rough, woody, flaky.        -   Branch lenticels.—Size: On one-year growth, about 0.5 mm by            0.5 mm; on three to four-year old growth, about 1.5 mm to 2            mm by 0.75 mm. Shape: On one-year growth, circular; on three            to four-year old growth, oblong. Color: On one-year growth,            close to NN155B; on three to four-year old growth, close to            192D.        -   Dormant leaf buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About            2.2 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate with rounded apex. Texture:            Smooth. Color: Close to N200C; edges, close to between 183C            and 200D.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Leaf length.—About 13.86 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 9.05 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Obovate.        -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire; deeply three to five-lobed with wide            rounded sinuses.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Leaf texture, lower surface.—Puberulent.        -   Leaf luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Leaf luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Leaf color.—When developing, upper surface: Close to between            138A and 137A. When developing, lower surface: Close to            138A. Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137A; in the            autumn, close to 173A to 173B and 179A; venation, close to            162B. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 137C;            venation, close to 164C.        -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 8.47 cm. Diameter: About            1.59 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 59A and 145C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 145C.-   Temperature tolerance: Trees of the new Oak have been observed to    tolerate high temperatures about 40.5° C. and low temperatures about    −11.7° C. when grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 8.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, trees of the new Oak have been    not observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Oak    trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Oak tree named ‘Dahlonega’ asillustrated and described.